Sean O’Malley heads into unfamiliar waters next month when he returns to action as part of the UFC’s debut numbered event on Paramount+ in a crucial showdown with Song Yadong at UFC 324.
For the first time in more than three years, “Suga” will be competing in a three-round non-title fight, his first since edging out current champ Petr Yan at UFC 280, which punched his ticket to the championship fight where he ultimately ascended to the bantamweight throne.
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“I’m the three-round UFC bantamweight champ, and I like that,” O’Malley said in early December when we spoke following the UFC 324 introductory press event in Las Vegas the night before UFC 323.